Finsen Crater Parents Two Satellites on Lunar Far Side

Summary: Finsen Crater parents two satellites on the lunar far side, in the southeastern quadrant, in proximity to the 180th meridian.

Detail of Lunar Astronautical Charts (LAC) 120 shows the Finsen Crater system’s two satellites, Finsen C and Finsen G, and their respective neighbors, Davisson Crater and Nishina T; courtesy NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) / GSFC (Goddard Space Flight Center) / ASU (Arizona State University): U.S. Geological Survey, Public Domain, via USGS Astrogeology Science Center / Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature

Finsen Crater parents two satellites on the lunar far side as a crater system in the southeastern quadrant, in proximity to the 180th meridian, the antimeridian.

The complex lunar impact crater is centered at minus 42.29 degrees south latitude, minus 177.72 degrees west longitude, according to the International Astronomical Union’s (IAU) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. The southern hemisphere crater registers northernmost and southernmost latitudes of minus 41.09 degrees south to minus 43.49 degrees south, respectively. It records easternmost and westernmost longitudes of minus 176.1 degrees west longitude to minus 179.35 degrees west longitude, respectively. Finsen Crater’s diameter measures 72.98 kilometers.

Northwestern Finsen Crater intrudes into the southeastern rim of its west-northwestern neighbor, Leibnitz Crater. Ejecta from Finsen Crater roughen Leibnitz Crater’s southeastern floor.

Leibnitz Crater is centered at minus 38.24 degrees south latitude, 179.49 degrees east longitude. Its northernmost and southernmost latitudes reach minus 34.35 degrees south and minus 42.12 degrees south, respectively. The southern hemisphere crater, which straddles the 180th meridian, observes easternmost and westernmost longitudes of minus 175.78 degrees west and 174.79 degrees east, respectively. Leibnitz Crater has a diameter of 236.67 kilometers.

Finsen Crater parents two satellites, Finsen C and Finsen G. Both of its two satellites reside, as close neighbors, to the east of their parent.

Finsen C lies to the northeast of its parent. The satellite’s location and boundaries qualify it both as the more northerly of the Finsen Crater system’s two satellites and, indeed, as the Finsen Crater system’s most northerly crater.

Finsen C is centered at minus 40.73 degrees south latitude, minus 175.79 degrees west longitude. It obtains northernmost and southernmost latitudes at minus 40.32 degrees south and minus 41.15 degrees south, respectively. The satellite’s easternmost and westernmost longitudes occur at minus 175.24 degrees west and minus 176.34 degrees west, respectively. Finsen C has a diameter of 25.35 kilometers.

Finsen C is located between its parent and Davisson Crater. Both its parent and Davisson are lodged along Leibnitz Crater’s eastern rim.

Dark-floored Davisson Crater is centered at minus 37.93 degrees south latitude, minus 174.97 degrees west longitude. Davisson’s northernmost and southernmost latitudes stretch from minus 36.44 degrees south and minus 39.42 degrees south, respectively. Its easternmost and westernmost longitudes extend from minus 173.18 degrees west and minus 176.78 degrees west, respectively. Davisson Crater’s diameter spans 92.46 kilometers.

Finsen G occupies the closer position of the Finsen Crater system’s two satellites. G hovers to the east-southeast of its parent. The satellite’s location and boundaries qualify it as the more easterly and more southerly of the Finsen Crater system’s two satellites and, indeed, as the Finsen Crater system’s most easterly and most southerly crater.

Finsen G is centered at minus 43.23 degrees south latitude, minus 175.47 degrees west longitude. The satellite marks northernmost and southernmost latitudes at minus 42.75 degrees south and minus 43.72 degrees south, respectively. It posts easternmost and westernmost longitudes of minus 174.81 degrees west and minus 176.14 degrees west, respectively. Finsen G’s diameter of 29.44 kilometer qualifies it as the larger of the Finsen Crater system’s two satellites.

In addition its parent to the west-northwest, Finsen G has a close, named neighbor to its south, Nishina T. Finsen G’s southern neighbor participates as the only satellite in the Nishina Crater system. Nishina T’s parent lies to the east of its satellite.

Nishina T is centered at minus 44.69 degrees south latitude, minus 174.69 degrees west longitude. It finds northernmost and southernmost latitudes at minus 44.22 degrees south and minus 45.16 degrees south, respectively. Its easternmost and westernmost longitudes touch minus 174.03 degrees west and minus 175.36 degrees west, respectively. Nishina T has a diameter of 28.66 kilometers.

The takeaways for Finsen Crater’s parentage of two satellites on the lunar far side are that the two satellites fan from their parent’s eastern side; that Finsen C, the Finsen Crater system’s northeastern satellite, lies between its parent and Davisson Crater; that Finsen G, the Finsen Crater system’s southeastern satellite, resides between its parent and Nishina T, the Nishina Crater system’s only satellite; and that Finsen G claims the larger diameter of the Finsen Crater system’s two satellites.

Detail of Shaded Relief and Color-Coded Topography Map shows Finsen Crater (center right) along Leibnitz Crater’s southeastern rim in the lunar far side’s southeastern quadrant: U.S. Geological Survey, Public Domain, via USGS Astrogeology Science Center / Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

Detail of Lunar Astronautical Charts (LAC) 120 shows the Finsen Crater system’s two satellites, Finsen C and Finsen G, and their respective neighbors, Davisson Crater and Nishina T; courtesy NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) / GSFC (Goddard Space Flight Center) / ASU (Arizona State University): U.S. Geological Survey, Public Domain, via USGS Astrogeology Science Center / Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/images/Lunar/lac104_wac.pdf

Detail of Shaded Relief and Color-Coded Topography Map shows Finsen Crater (center right) along Leibnitz Crater’s southeastern rim in the lunar far side’s southeastern quadrant: U.S. Geological Survey, Public Domain, via USGS Astrogeology Science Center / Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/images/moon_farside.pdf

For further information:

Andersson, Leif E.; and Ewen A. Whitaker. NASA Catalogue of Lunar Nomenclature. NASA Reference Publication 1097. Washington DC: NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration Scientific and Technical Information Branch, October 1982.
Available via NASA NTRS (NASA Technical Reports Server) @ https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19830003761.pdf

Consolmagno, Guy; and Dan M. Davis. Turn Left at Orion. Fourth edition. Cambridge UK; New York NY: Cambridge University Press, 2011.

Grego, Peter. The Moon and How to Observe It. Astronomers’ Observing Guides. London UK: Springer-Verlag, 2005.

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Davisson.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/1428

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Finsen.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/1959

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Finsen C.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/9072

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Finsen G.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/9073

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Leibnitz.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/3335

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Nishina T.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon. Last updated Oct. 18, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/11639

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Target: The Moon.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > The Moon.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Page/MOON/target

Levy, David H. Skywatching. Revised and updated. San Francisco CA: Fog City Press, 1994.

Marriner, Derdriu. “Finsen Crater Honors Faroese Phototherapist Niels Ryberg Finsen.” Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2012/09/finsen-crater-honors-faroese.html

The Moon Wiki. “Davisson.” The Moon > Lunar Features Alphabetically > D Nomenclature.
Available @ https://the-moon.us/wiki/Davisson

The Moon Wiki. “Finsen.” The Moon > Lunar Features Alphabetically > F Nomenclature.
Available @ https://the-moon.us/wiki/Finsen

The Moon Wiki. “IAU Directions.” The Moon.
Available @ https://the-moon.us/wiki/IAU_directions

The Moon Wiki. “Leibnitz.” The Moon > Lunar Features Alphabetically > L Nomenclature.
Available @ https://the-moon.us/wiki/Leibnitz

The Moon Wiki. “Nishina.” The Moon > Lunar Features Alphabetically > N Nomenclature.
Available @ https://the-moon.us/wiki/Nishina

Moore, Patrick, Sir. Philip’s Atlas of the Universe. Revised edition. London UK: Philip’s, 2005.